The next Oscar ceremony has been postponed for two months due to the coronavirus pandemic and is now scheduled for April 25, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday, which awards the prestigious awards. The 93rd edition of the Oscars was originally scheduled to take place on February 28, but the health crisis caused cinemas to close and disrupted the schedule for Hollywood productions.
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The Academy has therefore also extended the release period of films eligible for the Oscars, which goes from December 31, 2020 to February 28, 2021. It thus hopes "to give filmmakers the flexibility necessary to finish and release their films without being penalized", explain Academy officials in a statement.
Indecision on a virtual ceremony or not
The Academy had already recently relaxed its rules to exceptionally allow works released directly on video on demand platforms to compete. Most American movie theaters remain closed, against the backdrop of fears of a resurgence of the Covid-19 epidemic in many states.
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No decision has yet been made on whether the Oscars will take place in front of its usual star bed or turn into a "virtual" awards ceremony. "We are in unfamiliar territory this year and we will continue to work with our Academy partners to ensure that next year's show is safe," said Karey Burke, president of ABC who is broadcasting this flagship evening. from Hollywood.
The report announced Monday responds to the concerns of many cinema professionals who believe that the films released in 2020 would be too few to allow a solid selection.